Manning CICS Faculty Recognized for Excellence in Teaching

Two Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences (CICS) faculty members have been recognized this year for their outstanding contributions to teaching, mentoring, and curriculum leadership at UMass Amherst.

Professor David A. Mix Barrington received the 2026 College Outstanding Teaching Award, which honors faculty members across the university’s schools and colleges for excellence in instruction. Senior Teaching Faculty member Marc Liberatore was selected as one of five recipients of the university’s 2025–2026 Distinguished Teaching Award, one of UMass Amherst’s highest honors for exemplary teaching.

Together, the awards recognize the lasting impact Barrington and Liberatore have had on generations of students and on the college’s teaching mission.

David A. Mix Barrington Receives 2026 College Outstanding Teaching Award

Barrington’s recognition comes in his final year of full-time teaching, as he retires after 40 years at UMass Amherst.

The College Outstanding Teaching Award program is administered jointly by the university’s Center for Teaching and Learning and its schools and colleges. Presented annually during the spring semester, each award includes a $1,000 prize and a commemorative plaque. Nominees for the college’s 2026 award were put forward by faculty and reviewed by the CICS Internal Awards Committee, with student feedback helping to determine the final recipient.

“Dave took a vital part in shaping our college’s teaching mission for the past 40 years,” the awards committee said. “He has indisputably done a great deal of teaching, led others, and significantly impacted CICS’ teaching mission.”

The awards committee cited Barrington’s “greatest impact” as his work in COMPSCI 250 Introduction to Computation, a required course for the bachelor’s degree in computer science, which he has taught 26 times since 2005 and for which he recently wrote a textbook. The committee also recognized his mentoring and advising of students, leadership in developing several other courses, excellence in the classroom, and significant administrative contributions.

Barrington’s impact as an educator was also recognized by his students: “Professor Barrington’s ability to demystify complex concepts while maintaining a high standard of academic rigor is what truly sets them apart as an educator,” one student said. “[Barrington’s] dedication extends far beyond the lecture hall, providing the kind of mentorship and personal encouragement that inspires students to excel both academically and personally.”

Another student wrote, “Professor Barrington is always incredibly well-prepared for class and his lecture materials are impeccable. ... It is very clear that he is incredibly interested in his subject matter and in making sure students not only learn the material, but fully understand it, always being willing to stick around after class for questions.”

Reflecting on his career in teaching, research, advising, and administration, Barrington said the opportunity to connect with students has been among the most meaningful parts of his time at the university. He plans to continue teaching one of his favorite courses, COMPSCI 501 Theory of Computation, each spring for the next three years.

“My role has been to teach students to think—particularly to think mathematically in ways that help them understand and apply computing,” Barrington said. “I’ve tried to do that by connecting with students, learning about them through advising, and talking with them in class, in office hours, and anywhere else.

“I’ve been privileged to work with all of them, and with the many colleagues who have helped, including faculty, teaching assistants, and undergraduate course assistants.”

Barrington earned a PhD in mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1986, the same year he joined the UMass Amherst faculty. He served as the college’s chief undergraduate advisor from 1987 to 2010 and associate chair for academic programs from 2010 to 2023. He was also named a 1994–95 UMass Amherst Lilly Fellow. Barrington’s research focuses on complexity theory, examining the resources required by various abstract computing devices—both sequential and parallel—to solve mathematical problems.

Learn more about the College Outstanding Teaching Award and view previous recipients.

Marc Liberatore Receives 2025–2026 UMass Amherst Distinguished Teaching Award

Liberatore’s university-level recognition highlights his inclusive instruction, curriculum leadership, and long-standing impact on computer science education at UMass Amherst.

The Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes instructors whose teaching has had a lasting impact on students and the university community. Recipients are chosen through a competitive two-step review process conducted by committees made up of previous award winners. Each year, the university selects five faculty honorees—three tenure-track and two non-tenure-track—as well as two graduate teaching assistants.

Liberatore is the fourth CICS faculty member to receive a UMass Amherst Distinguished Teaching Award, joining professors Ramesh Sitaraman, Charles Weems, and William Verts.

A member of the CICS faculty since 2009, Liberatore has taught a wide range of courses over the course of his career, from introductory computing and data structures to digital forensics, computer systems, artificial intelligence, computer networking, and computer crime law. In recent years, he has been especially well known to CICS students for teaching CICS 210: Data Structures, a foundational course for many undergraduate computing pathways.

According to the university’s Center for Teaching and Learning, Liberatore’s teaching is grounded in a simple but powerful belief: “Everyone can do computer science.” That philosophy shapes an intentional classroom culture designed to strengthen students’ problem-solving abilities while helping them build confidence and a sense of belonging in the field. “It’s not just for boys or people who started programming at five. You can learn to code, to design programs and algorithms, to think computationally.” Liberatore said. “All of my work with students is informed by my belief that learning computer science is for anyone who wants it.”

The Center for Teaching and Learning’s award profile also highlights Liberatore’s lasting impact on students, noting that former students recalled both the way he welcomed them into his courses and the way he encouraged them as they moved on to new challenges. Beyond the classroom, the profile points to his important role in shaping the college’s introductory curriculum to better serve students across majors and colleges.

“Marc has long been one of our most impactful lecturers,” said Keith Marzullo, Donna M. and Robert J. Manning Dean. “This award recognizes both the excellence of his instruction and the professional care he brings to helping students grow as computer scientists.”

The honor adds to a growing list of university-level recognitions for Liberatore. In 2025, he received an inaugural UMass Amherst Delphi Leadership Award, which recognized his sustained advocacy and leadership on behalf of non-tenure-track faculty. He was also appointed to the UMass Amherst Office of Faculty Development’s 2025–2027 Internal Advisory Board.

Within CICS, Liberatore previously received the college’s Outstanding Teaching Award and has been recognized multiple times as a Distinguished Teaching Award nominee or finalist before receiving this year’s honor.

In addition to his teaching, Liberatore’s research focuses on improving network forensic tools and techniques, with particular interest in the weaknesses of practical anonymity systems such as Tor.

Recipients of the Distinguished Teaching Award receive a monetary prize, and their names are inscribed on the Distinguished Teaching Award memorial wall in the Integrative Learning Center.